HOUSTON - It's a tea party unlike any Houston, and perhaps the entire country, has ever seen. The first Black Tea Party held its inaugural meeting Tuesday night in the Third Ward. Organizers of the Crispus Attucks Tea Party are quick to point out that anyone is welcome and it's not a political party.

Their mission statement reads in part:

"To build a strong base of conservative Black entrepreneurs, elected officials and constituents that provide Black conservatives a viable way to express and implement their conservative values politically."

Co-founder Anita Moncrief says the party is also looking to overcome stereotypes.

"We're trying to break the stereotype that the tea party is racist," said Moncrief.

At least half of the 75 or so people who attended the first meeting are white and have been defending the rights of taxpayers for a while.

Then there's Marie Johnson, a longtime Black Democrat. She's fed up with the direction the country is going and wanted to see what the movement is all about.

"It (race) didn't make any difference to me as long as I had a tea party and we get together," said Johnson.

The meeting was held at "This Is It" Soul Food restaurant in the heart of the Third Ward. It's no secret Black voters overwhelmingly support Democratic candidates.

Customers we spoke with are skeptical the Black Tea Party movement will be successful.

"It's just not in my system to want to identify with any party other than Democrat," said John Hollins".

"It's not really about Republican or Democrat. It's about the black community. The minority vote has been misused and manipulated by people for so long," said Moncrief.

Newly elected Texas State Representative James Early White (R-TX District 12) isn't worried about taking any heat for being a Black Tea Party activist. He won in a predominantly white district.

"I've won a campaign, so I don't know about any backlash," he said.

Johnson doesn't feel she has to defend her views either.

"Frankly I'm the type of person that's not afraid to step out of the box. I think Black people need to be more concerned about what our politicians are doing for our community, where is our money going and what are they doing with it," said Johnson.

I am a foodie, and since I moved to Houston a whole world has been opened up to me. I like to discover every hole in the wall and greasy spoon here, looking for that diamond in the rough that so many of us covet.

Thus, it is out of concern for my felow man that I must warn diners that the soul food restaurant "This Is It" referenced in the article has horrible food and filthy tables, but the service is even worse.

Obviously the Left must halt this flight from the plantation. Expect the following strategy:

1. Ignore it. You will find the story only on a handful of conservative sites.
2. Diminish it. Should the story acquire “legs”, if it appears in the old-fashioned press, it will only be as a sidebar with pointed comments about its limited appeal and its fragility.
3. Demean it. If it continues to gather strength, call in the Revs (Sharpton, Jackson, and Farrahan) and whatever other Step ‘n’ Fetchits are on the Dem payroll to condemn it as an “Uncle Tom” sellout movement that betrays Da Bruthas. (As a side benefit, after spewing a flood of such bitter invective, plead for civility in our public discourse.)
4. Savage it. Call out the big guns. Get Obamateur to deride it as a thoughtless, extremist organization in thrall to Wall Street fat cats, corrupt bankers, and George Bush. Sic Homeland Security, the IRS, and the Justice Department on its members. That’ll learn ‘em to git uppity.

So would I, an American who happens to be white, not be welcome at this black organization? Should I confer with the members of our local organization to refer Americans who happen to be black to other race specific Tea Parties? What happens to the brown members, who takes them? Latinos and a lot of Asians are both brown, should they be combined by color, or should they be divided by racial guidelines? And what about Americans who happen to be some other color than black, white or brown, where should they fit in?

OK, the sarcasm is on hold. This is the most stupid idea I have heard of yet. Must we eternally be identified by race in this country? If anything could succeed in tearing us apart, this is it.

>>>Would I be able to come to yours since Im not of the black persuasion?<<<

“At least half of the 75 or so people who attended the first meeting are white.”

I would say yes.

I”m sure not a big fan of groups that identify themselves by race. However, I put it in the same category as congressman West joining the Black Caucus, he wanted to affect change from the inside. Sadly, the Blacks have had a “group think” for so long, and it's not going to change over night.

I must have missed something kara.....but that makes me feel better about it. I hope in my lifetime, blacks will see how they’ve been used for the past 45 or so years and continue to be used to this day. There’s alot more opportunity for blacks in a Conservative party than any other. It’s comin’ around and that makes me very happy. BTW, thanks for the info. :)

22
posted on 01/19/2011 6:54:41 AM PST
by Dawgreg
(Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.)

That comment must be joke. I know for a fact that they recently had a health inspection and received a 5, which is the HIGHEST score possible. I eat there all the time, and the food is GREAT! You obviously must be hating.

I think you are missing the point. When I worked for ACORN, they used blacks to hide their illegal activity. What we are trying to do is break that cycle. Last night’s meeting was about unity. If we are true Conservatives, we care about ALL of America and want to take it back. Tea Parties are set up where people live and there is not one in 3rd ward.

The media is calling us a “black Tea Party” but we are simply a Tea Party set up in a urban minority area. All are welcome. We are also a party of the Texas Tea Party Federation.

Some FReepers have some issues with “black” being attached to anything because they think it means “exclusively black”. And of course, if you label any group “white”, you can just imagine.

The reason it doesn’t bother me because I believe we are at a crucial turning point in politics — I believe the black community needs to know there are black conservatives and conservative groups. It teaches people that “black” does NOT equal “democrat”.

Even so, I hope there will be a day that there will be enough black conservatives that these labels won’t be needed anymore.

26
posted on 01/19/2011 8:10:07 AM PST
by justsaynomore
("We the people are still in charge of this country!" - Herman Cain)

I always wonder why anyone refers to it as “the minority vote” as if it is a block of votes and not individuals with the right to vote as they please. If more minority voters would think of their vote as their own, and not government issue, they might actually listen to issues like the conservative ideas on education and jobs and personal responsibility and vote likewise.

28
posted on 01/19/2011 9:54:49 AM PST
by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
("The View" is the new Maury Povich inspired "Fight Club in Heels")

Awesome work you are doing....do NOT let the lefties and the
media “brand” you! You are breaking new ground and it needs
to be recognized on it’s own merits, not by some box that
they try to put you in by virtue of who you are. I hope this
movement grows stronger by the day!

One mans tasteless is anothedr man’s pudding. I have listened that that kind of “jive-ass talkin” for long enough to know it be righton dude.

Regarding “that part of town”, hate to have to tell you, I was sucking down longnecks in that neighborhood at Princes loooong before you ever heard of This is it, 3rd Ward, Houston or yo mama’s voice. So don’t come on trying to act uppity around here nooby.

They were the best before What-a-burger came along.
We used to run the poor waitress’s legs off bringing us 1 longneck at a time. Had a buddy that would empty one before she could walk away.

Princes on Telephone Road was “the place” although over on Navigation they had some cool 60’s hotrods cruising through often. Always carried a Ruger .44 Mag in both areas, never had to bust a cap, just let them get a peek at that cannon was enough to deter the badest.

I spent first 3 yrs pf life off of Telephone Rd, then my family moved to Westbury in 1957, one of the first houses on a dirt road called Chimney Rock. Our fave was Princes by Lees Den on South Main St, before the Astrodome. Ahh, the memories, my first job was hawking soda and popcorn in the dome, 1964.

39
posted on 01/20/2011 8:49:12 AM PST
by wxgesr
(I want to be the first person to surf on another planet.)

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.